Famous people and celebrities who died in 1963

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1963. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 2 Dick Powell

  Versatile Hollywood star who successfully transitioned from musical performer to dramatic actor and film director, known for his roles in musicals and film noir.

• Jan. 2 Jack Carson

  Canadian-American character actor known for memorable roles in classic Hollywood films like 'A Star is Born' and 'Mildred Pierce', who was a prominent supporting actor in the 1940s and 1950s.

• Jan. 29 Robert Frost

  Robert Frost was an American poet known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his use of colloquial language in his poetry.

• Jan. 30 Pelham Warner

  Australian entrepreneur who founded a successful retail chain.

• Feb. 6 Piero Manzoni

  Influential Italian conceptual artist known for radical and provocative works that challenged traditional art concepts, including his famous 'Artist's Shit' canned artwork.

• Feb. 11 Sylvia Plath

  Sylvia Plath was a renowned American poet and novelist whose deeply personal and confessional writing style revolutionized 20th-century literature. Her semi-autobiographical novel 'The Bell Jar' and her powerful poetry collection 'Ariel' explored themes of depression, femininity, and existential despair. Her tragic suicide at age 30 further cemented her legendary status in literary history.

• March 5 Patsy Cline

  Pioneering country music singer who broke gender barriers in the music industry. She was the first woman inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973, leaving an indelible mark on American music despite her tragically short life.

• May 6 Monty Woolley

  American actor known for his role in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner.'

• May 18 Ernie Davis

  Legendary African American football player who was the first Black player to win the Heisman Trophy, tragically dying young from leukemia. His remarkable story was immortalized in the film 'The Express'.

• May 23 August Jakobson

  August Jakobson was a prominent Estonian author and political figure who played a significant role in Estonian literature and politics during the mid-20th century. He was known for his contributions to Estonian cultural and political discourse during a challenging period of Soviet occupation. His works and political activities left a lasting impact on Estonian intellectual history.

• May 26 Sharon Lynn

  Actress (way out west big broadcast), dies aged 53

• May 31 Edith Hamilton

  Edith Hamilton was an American educator and author who was a pioneer in the field of classical studies.

• June 3 Nâzım Hikmet

  Renowned Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist who is considered one of the most significant figures in modern Turkish literature, known for his revolutionary and humanist poetry.

• June 7 Zasu Pitts

  Actress (wedding march - life with father), who dies at 65

• June 12 Medgar Evers

  Prominent African American civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1963, becoming a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

• June 18 Pedro Armendáriz

  Renowned Mexican-American actor and film producer known for his significant contributions to Latin American cinema in the mid-20th century.

• Aug. 10 Estes Kefauver

  Estes Kefauver was a prominent Democratic U.S. Senator from Tennessee who led significant crime investigations in the 1950s and ran as Adlai Stevenson's vice presidential candidate in 1956.

• Aug. 10 Patrick J Kennedy

  American politician from the famous Kennedy political dynasty, known for his public service and advocacy for mental health and addiction issues.

• Aug. 17 Richard Barthelmess

  Actor (heroes for sales), passes away from cancer at the age of 68

• Aug. 30 Guy Burgess

  Guy Burgess was a notorious British diplomat and Soviet spy who was part of the Cambridge Five, a spy ring that passed critical intelligence to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

• Oct. 10 Édith Piaf

  Legendary French singer known as 'La Môme Piaf' (The Little Sparrow), she was an iconic voice of 20th-century French music with a powerful, emotional style. Her most famous songs include 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Non, je ne regrette rien', and her life was marked by both extraordinary artistic success and personal tragedy.

• Oct. 29 Adolphe Menjou

  American actor. he is one of hollywood's most charismatic stars, with over 200 films. he was nominated in 1930 for the best actor oscar for his role as "the front page". in the early 1950s, he also hosted his own television show, "my favorite story."

• Nov. 21 Pierre Blanchar

  Pierre blanchar was a french actor who began his career in 1920. he appeared in over 120 french films, and many plays during his life. his greatest fame came in the 1930s films, including "crime and punishment" 1935. blanchard directed two films, and his daughter is an actor.

• Nov. 22 John Fitzgerald Kennedy

  John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 to 1963. He is renowned for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis and his tragic assassination, which shocked the world.

• Nov. 22 John F. Kennedy

  35th President of the United States, a pivotal figure in 20th-century American politics who was tragically assassinated in Dallas in 1963. His presidency was marked by significant events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and civil rights movement.

• Dec. 12 Yasujiro Ozu

  Legendary Japanese film director renowned for his minimalist style and profound family dramas, considered one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history.

• Dec. 14 Dinah Washington

  Legendary African American jazz and blues singer known as the 'Queen of the Blues', who significantly influenced mid-20th century popular music across multiple genres. She was a groundbreaking artist who successfully crossed jazz, blues, R&B, and pop music boundaries during the 1950s.

• Dec. 26 Gorgeous George

  Iconic American professional wrestler who revolutionized wrestling entertainment with his flamboyant persona and theatrical style.

What happened in 1963?

Discover what the world looked like in 1963: